Bible: Ezekiel 44:15-27

The Levitical Priests

44:15 “‘Butthe Leviticalpriests, the descendantsof Zadok1whokeptthechargeof my sanctuarywhen the people of Israelwent astrayfrom me, will approachme toministerto me; they will standbeforeme to offerme the fatand the blood, declaresthe sovereignLord.44:16Theywill entermy sanctuary, and approachmy tableto ministerto me; they will keepmy charge.

44:17 “‘Whenthey enterthe gatesof the innercourt, they must wearlinengarments; they must nothave any woolon them when they ministerin the innergatesof the courtand in the temple.44:18Linenturbanswill beontheir headsand linenundergarmentswill bearound their waists; they must notbind themselves with anything that causes sweat.44:19When they go outtothe outercourttothe people, they must removethegarmentstheywere ministeringin, and place them intheholychambers; they must put onothergarmentsso that they will nottransmit holinessto the peoplewith their garments.2

44:20 “‘They must notshavetheir heads3norlet their hairgrow long;4 they must only trimtheir heads.44:21Nopriestmay drinkwinewhen he entersthe innercourt.44:22They must notmarrya widowor a divorcee, butthey maymarry a virginfrom the houseof Israel5or a widowwho is a priest’swidow.44:23Moreover, they will teachmy peoplethe differencebetweenthe holyand the common, and show them how to distinguishbetweenthe ceremonially uncleanand the clean.6

44:24 “‘In a controversytheywill act as judges;7they will judgeaccording to my ordinances. They will keep my lawsand my statutesregarding allmy appointed festivalsand will observe8my Sabbaths.

44:25 “‘They must notcomenear a deadpersonorthey will be defiled;9however, forfather, mother, son, daughter, brotherorsister, they maydefilethemselves.44:26Aftera priest10 has become ceremonially clean, they11 must countoff a period of sevendaysfor him.44:27On the dayhe entersthe sanctuary, intothe innercourtto servein the sanctuary, he must offerhis sin offering, declaresthe sovereignLord.